The Reading Is Fundamental model

The RIF model: how it works

Dr. Hollis Scarborough invented the concept of the Reading Rope* in the early 1990s, which illustrates the two major strands that are woven together for a child to become a skilled reader: language comprehension and word recognition. These two major strands and their subcomponents have largely become referred to as the Science of Reading (SOR) due to the abundance of high-quality, empirical studies that support instructional programs and curriculums tied to these reading strands.  

RIF's model integrates and contributes to the research demonstrating that reading frequency, motivation, and engagement are complimentary to language comprehension and word recognition in the development of reading proficiency and JOY!

Research indicates joy to be an equally important component that alone does not drive reading proficiency—but when combined with word recognition and language comprehension, supports measurable reading outcomes for children. 

_{*Scarborough, H. S. (2001). Connecting early language and literacy to later reading (dis)abilities: Evidence, theory, and practice. In S. Neuman & D. Dickinson (Eds.), Handbook for research in early literacy (pp. 97–110). New York, NY: Guilford Press.}